Selectmen acknowledged that in the past, they had reservations and concerns about such an agreement but believed the pact's advantages outweigh the drawbacks.

Town Administrator Kevin Mizikar noted that while the agreement takes effect on March 1, it could take up to a year for operations to begin. The city received a Public Safety Answering Point Development Grant that will result in construction of a $1.6 million emergency communications center.

Mr. Mizikar said Leicester will save enough money to pay two full-time police officers and one civilian employee and increase police station hours. He declined to give specific dollar amounts but said he was confident the "re-allocation" of money would occur.

Selectman Matt Dennison, who was initially opposed to the idea, said the ability to build the police force changed his mind. "What it came down to is that I'd rather have more hours and more police on the street, especially in today's climate."

The center will be owned and operated by Worcester and overseen by a three-member Operations Committee consisting of one representative each from Leicester's police and fire departments and Worcester's director of emergency communications.

The committee composition was one reason Selectman Douglas Belanger grew comfortable with the idea. "That was the turning point. The committee will be making decisions. Do the math," he said.

Sandy Wilson, chairwoman of the Board Selectmen, said regional dispatch would also improve efficiency. She noted that having separate call takers would free up dispatchers to communicate solely with police, fire, ambulance and emergency personnel. She said that after a recent accident in Leicester, 40 calls came in and the dispatcher had to keep putting responders on hold to take them.

Mr. Mizikar said Leicester would have to pay Worcester the difference based on call volume if the city received less than $550,000 in PSAP grant money in any given year. He added that the town will pay approximately $31,000 into a capital emergency fund.

Mr. Belanger urged townspeople to get involved at town meeting in the spring if they would like to see savings distributed back into the Police Department.

"Democracy belongs to those who participate," he said.

In other business, selectmen heard from the town administrator that the $84,000 budget for snow and ice removal is depleted and the account is $57,521.55 in the red. He said that across the state, the salt supply is dwindling and he's hoping that an anticipated delivery pans out, with more stormy weather expected Wednesday and over the weekend.